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1News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- 1News
Matariki celebrated across NZ with ceremony and reflection
New Zealanders right around the country have been celebrating Matariki, with many of them up well before dawn to watch the rising of the star cluster which heralds the start of the Māori New Year. It became an official public holiday only in 2022, but it's already become one of our most meaningful days and the first holiday to recognise Te Ao Māori. It was the first new public holiday since Waitangi Day became a public holiday in 1974. The date of Matariki changes from year to year, but it will always fall in June or July. A public holiday is held for Matariki on June 20, 2025. (Source: Ngāti Rangi hosted this year's national Matariki ceremony at Tirorangi Marae at the base of Mount Ruapehu. ADVERTISEMENT Iwi spokesperson Che Wilson told 1News it was a "huge honour" to be the first marae to host the national holiday ceremony. "It's truly a privilege to welcome everyone here," he said. "It means a great deal to us." Wilson explained that the Matariki celebrations would include offering karakia to specific stars in alignment with their Puanga traditions. "In our Puanga narrative, we'll offer them to four atua – Tāne, Rongo, Tangaroa, and Maru [the gods of forest, cultivated food, the sea, and war]." The Māori Queen, politicians, and dignitaries attended the national ceremony. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said having events across the country was a "real kotahitanga moment". "To bring it to national presence and international presence is something that connects us to the universe, and that's really important for us, that we see our tikanga as a way of life, as a daily platform for kotahitanga. And for me, it also connects to many, many other people from throughout the world." ADVERTISEMENT It was also a poignant moment for European Union ambassador to New Zealand Lawrence Meredith, who lost his father when he was young. "This whole transition for the ancestors is a really powerful message, the idea that ancestors become stars," he said. Hautapu ceremony at Auckland's Bastion Point this morning. (Source: 1News) Hundreds gathered at Auckland's Bastion Point to ring in the Māori New Year this morning with a hautapu ceremony. Food and steam were offered to the stars of Matariki as an offering of thanks from the umu or hāngī. The kai that is prepared for the hautapu connects to four different whetū (stars) in the Matariki cluster: Seafood with the star Waitā; freshwater kai with the star Waitī; kai from above the ground with the star Tupuārangi; and kai from the earth with the star Tupuānuku. Many were up well before dawn to watch the rising of the star cluster. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT Kingi Makoare (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) said it was awesome to see the eagerness from people to learn about Māori culture. "It's heartwarming to see people really interested in us." Fiona Smith (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) added that it was a "great reflection of what New Zealand really should be". "Together, collaborative right from the beginning, standing shoulder to shoulder, doing things together, holding hands together." A maumaharatanga ceremony on Mauao/Mount Maunganui. (Source: 1News) In Tauranga, people of all ages summitted Mauao / Mount Maunganui before dawn for a remembrance of loved ones who had died in the past year. Te Puna I Rangiriri trust chairman Jack Thatcher led the maumaharatanga ceremony and said it was a "very emotional" morning. ADVERTISEMENT Maumaharatanga translates to memorial, memory or recollection. Grieving families and friends were invited to place their hands on the monument Te Tapuātea o Mauao and call out the names of their loved ones. "We have people bringing a lot of hurt. To call out the names of the loved ones that they're missing gives them a chance to heal and carry on," Thatcher said.
1News
17 hours ago
- 1News
Mushroom trial: Motive and murder - what the jury must decide
With all evidence now complete, closing arguments are underway in one of the most high-profile murder trials in Australia. But jurors in Victoria aren't being asked to find a motive. They're being asked to decide whether Erin Patterson is guilty of murder beyond reasonable doubt. Experts agree the legal threshold is one of the most misunderstood elements of criminal trials - so what does that actually mean? Australia Correspondent Aziz Al Sa'afin explains. What's the job of the jury? To weigh the evidence presented and decide whether guilt has been proven beyond reasonable doubt Under Victorian law, jurors must not speculate, assume or 'fill in gaps' - they rely only on what was presented in court What does 'beyond reasonable doubt' actually mean? ADVERTISEMENT Speaking to 1News, Criminal barrister Rishi Nathwani KC explained it like this: 'It doesn't mean beyond any doubt at all - just beyond a reasonable one. If the jury finds there is a real possibility the accused is innocent, they must acquit.' Nathwani said while the phrase remains in use in Victoria, in other jurisdictions it's sometimes simplified as: 'Are you sure?' If jurors are not sure, based on the evidence presented in court, then the verdict must be not guilty. Why is this important in the Patterson case? The Crown has alleged Erin Patterson deliberately served a meal containing death cap mushrooms that killed three of her relatives and left a fourth man fighting for life. But prosecutors have explicitly told jurors not to focus on motive. 'You don't need to find a motive to find someone guilty of murder,' the prosecution has said. Instead, they argue that Patterson's behaviour - including her shifting explanations, deleted data and acquisition of a food dehydrator point to intent. ADVERTISEMENT Defence: Beware the danger of hindsight In closing arguments, Patterson's barrister Colin Mandy SC warned the jury not to judge her through the lens of hindsight. 'This trial isn't about what might have happened. It's about what the evidence shows.' He said much of the Crown's argument is based on 'speculation' and assumptions that don't amount to proof. So what is the jury considering? Under Victorian law, jurors must decide whether Erin Patterson: Intended to kill or cause serious injury to her lunch guests And whether the prosecution has proven this beyond reasonable doubt ADVERTISEMENT That's it. Even without a clear motive, even with odd behaviour - Nathwani said if there's a reasonable explanation that fits the evidence, Patterson must be acquitted. What has the prosecution said? Over the course of the trial, the Crown argued: Patterson lied about where the mushrooms came from She deliberately misled health officials and police Her phone was factory reset to hide evidence She visited areas where wild death caps were known to grow The prosecution also suggested the sixth beef Wellington - prepared for her estranged husband - was kept separate and potentially safe, though he did not attend the lunch. Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers and Erin Patterson. Montage by Crystal Choi. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT What has the defence said? The defence has said: Patterson panicked and lied, but that doesn't mean she's guilty She had no motive to harm her family Scientific and forensic evidence is inconclusive Death cap residue in the dehydrator does not prove intent or timing They also say surviving guest Ian Wilkinson - who testified the accused used different coloured plates - was 'honestly mistaken'. They raised the possibility a third, unknown mushroom species may have been present in the leftovers, citing expert testimony from a virologist. What happens if the jury can't agree? In Victoria, murder charges require a unanimous verdict. Justice Beale will try to avoid a hung jury by directing the jury to continue deliberating and try to reach agreement. But it is possible it could result in a mistrial if all options have been "exhausted". ADVERTISEMENT As Nathwani explained: 'The judge would, if [the jury] made it aware they were struggling to reach a unanimous verdict, direct them... There's a direction he can give of law, which says, you know, you've got to listen to each other... But if they can't, then it's a retrial, and they do it all again in many months' time.' Recap: What's happened so far in the trial? Week 1–2: Opening arguments and early witnesses, including police and hospital staff. Week 3: Toxicology and forensic experts testified on the symptoms of death cap poisoning. Week 4: Phone and tech evidence, including the factory reset, was presented. Week 5: Botanical and mushroom experts, including Dr Tom May, confirmed death cap DNA in cooking equipment. Week 6: Testimony from Patterson's children and others about her behaviour. ADVERTISEMENT Week 7: Erin Patterson testified across eight days. She denied intent and maintained it was a tragic accident. Week 8: Closing arguments. Prosecution accused her of inventing key parts of her story. Defence said speculation and hindsight are not proof. What next? Judge Christopher Beale is expected to give final directions to the jury next week. Deliberations could begin by the end of June.
1News
a day ago
- Business
- 1News
Undeclared tax totalling $45m found in horticulture industry
Inland Revenue (IR) has found $45 million worth of undeclared taxes in the horticulture industry over the past 10 months. The tax department also said it had seen some "concerning" practices in the sector, including people being paid under the table. Inland Revenue spokesperson Tony Morris said paying tax for some in the sector had often become an afterthought with ongoing recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle, increasing compliance costs, and labour shortages. "Along with paying people under the table, IR is seeing cash sales not being reported correctly (including payments to contractors) and withholding tax not being deducted on schedular payments made, deducted at incorrect rates or not being reported to Inland Revenue." 'While many growers are doing things right, they typically hire labour through a contracting firm, which then frequently pays the labourers in cash. Some of these contracting firms then use convoluted business structures to try and hide those payments. ADVERTISEMENT "Not only does this mean they could avoid their tax, but it also means the labourers can get benefit payments they aren't entitled to or avoid their child support or student loan payments," Morris said. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds including what will happen to food after supermarket blaze, Trump's dithering over the Middle East, and winter car care tips. (Source: 1News) IR recently said it would be intensifying its tax compliance and collection efforts after a significant funding injection in the last two Budgets. The Government had allocated new additional permanent funding of $35 million a year for Inland Revenue and also continued funding of $26.5 million a year from Budget 2022 that was due to run out in June. A return of $4 for every dollar was expected for the first year with $8 for every dollar from the second year. Morris said IR was cracking down by requiring contracting firms to withhold tax from their labourers' payments and pay it directly to IR. "Where Inland Revenue identifies growers and other payers not correctly deducting or accounting for the tax, we are also following these up." Close to 100 audits of contracting firms were active at the moment, with prosecutions also underway. "With a high use of cash and migrant labour, the horticulture industry is also a sector open to abuse of workers," Morris said, adding that IR works with other government agencies to address those issues. 'Alongside Hort NZ and Zespri, we work hard to ensure growers and contracting firms are aware of what they need to do to get things right, and appreciate the efforts of the many who do get it right."
1News
a day ago
- Business
- 1News
GDP grows 0.8% in March quarter
The New Zealand economy grew in the first quarter of 2025, with GDP increasing by 0.8% in figures released today by Stats NZ. It followed a revised 0.5% increase in the December 2024 quarter. Activity increased in the March 2025 quarter across all three high-level industry groups: primary industries, goods-producing industries, and services industries. "At a more detailed industry level, nine of the 16 industries increased, with the largest rises in business services and manufacturing," economic growth spokesperson Katrina Dewbery said. Activity picked up in the March 2025 quarter across all three high-level industry groups. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT An increase in the production of machinery and equipment led a rise in manufacturing. The largest decreases were seen in arts and recreation services, and information, media and telecommunications. Household expenditure rose by 1.4% this quarter, up from 0.1% last quarter. Spending on services, durables, and non-durables were all up, with the increased services spending driven by rises in cultural services, other digital services imports, and accommodation services. 'Great news' - Willis reacts to 'surprise' GDP result Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the "surprise" economic result was great news for workers, families and businesses. ADVERTISEMENT "This is the second consecutive quarter in which growth outstripped forecasters' assumptions and confirms the economy was gaining momentum late last year and at the start of this year." She said New Zealanders should "take heart that the country is back on track" despite increases in global conflicts, the introduction of new tariffs, and what she called "six years of economic mismanagement" by the previous Labour government. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds including what will happen to food after supermarket blaze, Trump's dithering over the Middle East, and winter car care tips. (Source: 1News) "I know many households and businesses are still doing it tough but the steps the Government has taken to stop wasteful spending, grow the economy and provide more support to households are paying dividends. So are the efforts of the private sector." Willis said the money was flowing through to businesses thanks to the steps the Government had taken to "reduce red tape, incentivise investment and boost tourism, and the export records being set by New Zealand farmers and growers". "Inflation is down, interest rates are down, and many families have a little more money in their pockets."
1News
a day ago
- Automotive
- 1News
After public outcry, NZTA reinstates features to Ō2NL Highway
After extensive public concern over proposed design changes to the Ōtaki to north of Levin highway, the NZTA Board has confirmed it will reinstate several critical features to the project. Last month, 1News reported the Horowhenua community said it had been "blindsided" by the changes to the expressway project to cut costs, which included scaling back the planned interchange to a roundabout. 'This is a significant and very welcome moment for Horowhenua,' Mayor Bernie Wanden said today. 'We've done it,' Ōtaki MP Tim Costley said. Additional funding has been confirmed for Tararua Rd in Levin to be a grade-separated interchange. ADVERTISEMENT The southern connection, near Taylors Rd, would include a southbound onramp, allowing vehicles travelling south on the current SH1 to join the Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressway north of Ōtaki. The local road at Manakau Heights would be connected across the new highway via a bridge. 'It's not just a good outcome; it's the right outcome,' Wanden said. By 2040, Horowhenua was expected to have an additional 16,000 people living in the district, and more than 760,000 people living within an hour's drive. 'We understand people were frustrated, even disillusioned at times, but this outcome shows what's possible when a community comes together and speaks with clarity and conviction. "It's a win not just for us, but for future generations who will benefit from this safer, more resilient corridor,' Wanden said. The Ōtaki to north of Levin project has been coming for a decade and locals want the road they were promised. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT NZTA chief executive Brett Gliddon said the agency considered value for money options — and listened to community feedback. The Ō2NL project was part of the Government's Roads of National Significance, and construction was set to begin later this year, with the road scheduled to open in 2029. 'Together we have secured the road we wanted,' Costley said. 'This decision shows the value in have strong local advocacy, and strong representatives fighting our local cause in Wellington and across the region.' The construction and operation of the road wouldl have a range of economic benefits associated with population and urban growth, employment, and economic activity. NZTA documents showed that the overall net GDP impact of the project was estimated at between $1.157 billion and $1.258 billion.
